Allegedly drunk drivers stagger police with their 'stupidity'

Police say they are staggered by the "stupidity" of three Sydney work colleagues who were allegedly caught drink-driving in the same ute within minutes of each other near Newcastle overnight.

When the first driver was hauled away to the police station for allegedly failing a roadside breath-test, his colleague who was a passenger in the vehicle then hopped in the driver's seat in plain view of officers, police say.

He also allegedly failed a roadside breath-test and was arrested and removed from the vehicle.

Not to be outdone, the third colleague then allegedly got behind the wheel and drove away before he also was stopped, police say.

The trio were united at Toronto Police Station a short time later, where they each allegedly failed further breath-tests and were charged with drink-driving offences.

"They've all been consuming alcohol together. They would be aware of the level of sobriety in relation to each other, and they've witnessed their friends taken away for the purposes of undergoing breath analysis, and then they occupy the driver's seat. It's just stupidity."

Inspector Cox said the men were colleagues from Sydney who had been working at a site in Anna Bay, about 50 kilometres north of Newcastle.

The men were attempting to drive to their accommodation in Toronto when they were stopped at a random breath-testing site on Lake Road in Argenton at 12.35am on Monday, Inspector Cox said.

The first man, a 45-year-old man from Claremont Meadows, allegedly returned a positive result and was taken back to the police station, where police say he returned a reading of 0.134. He was charged with a mid-range drink-driving.

"While they were there, the remaining two passengers were still sitting in the car, but then one of them entered the driver's seat and went to drive off," Inspector Cox said.

"He has been spoken to by police, and he went back to Toronto Police Station as well."

The 33-year-old man from Oakhurst allegedly returned a reading of 0.140 and was charged with mid-range drink-driving.

Inspector Cox said the third man then got behind the wheel.

"About 10 minutes later the third bloke's gone to drive off and he was stopped a bit further down the road," he said.

The 50-year-old, from Claymore, allegedly returned a reading of 0.164. He was charged with a high-range drink-driving.